Not Quite Human

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The song is Earth Angel from the Temptations. I don't own the song but I love listening to it.

Thinking

Alternate Personality/Mask Speech

Speaking

Chapter 8: Playing for the Mob.

The day of the gig came all too soon. I had spent three days inside without running and I was getting depressed. I hated seeing people hurt and I knew that if I went out Batman or his little Robin would just tail me. I didn't want to see either of them right now. I showered and let my sister dress me and I even didn't struggle when she put makeup on me. I was in a light blue dress that cascaded to the floor in a wave of silk and lace. The sleeves were only elbow length but had a ruffle of lace along the shoulders. The neckline was modest and had small rhinestones dotting it. She put some blue eye shadow on and painted my lips bubblegum pink.

"She almost ready?" Max popped his head in and whistled at me. He was dressed up in a black suit and tie. His hair was greased back and shiny in the light.

"Yea but I almost want to leave her home. She looks so empty." Randi sighed and brushed my hair. "You think she found a guy but turned out he was married or something?"

"If she found a guy then Hell itself must have frozen over." He shrugged and left us alone again.

"Guess I'm thinking into this too hard. Everyone gets down sometimes." She finished my hair and started on her own. She was wearing an ankle length black dress that clung to her curves. It shimmered a bit in the light and she had a strand of pearls wrapped around her neck. The back of her dress plunged to just below her shoulder blades and had some black netting covering her skin. I left her be and walked out to see if the guys needed help loading the van up.

"Try not to make eye contact with anybody." Bernard was lugging the drum set out the door. "We won't get to go back if you make all the babies cry."

"Fuck off Bernard." I sounded tired and he just shrugged and walked out.

"Relax D. Everyone's a little cranky. Don't worry about loading anything up we've about got it done. Just get your stuff together and meet us at the van." Max carried one of our amps out after Bernard.

I went to my room and pulled some cash out of my hidden stash along with some ID and stuffed them into my bra. I was preparing for a very boring night, I'd caught sight of an 'approved songs' list on the table the night before. We were expected to play soft pleasant music. That was probably why Randi was taking lead, to help keep a calm feeling going with the crowd.

"Hey hurry up we're going to be late!" She popped her head in my room and gave me a weird look. She had put on a deep red lipstick and light gray eye shadow. She looked like a heroine from an old time movie.

"Lets go." I followed her to the van and Max drove us off to the better side of town. The buildings were nicer and the streets cleaner. People were walking without fear of being mugged. I felt out of place already. We set up and I was near the back by Max. Bernard was in front of me partially obscuring me from public view. After our introduction Randi sent me an apologetic look as we strummed through our first song.

Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine?
My darling dear, love you all the time
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever, and ever more
I'm just a fool, a fool in love with you

I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your love, loveliness
I hope and I pray that someday
I'll be the vision of your happy, happiness

Oh earth, earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear, love you all the time
I'm just a fool, fool, a fool in love with you

I fell for you and I knew
The vision of your loveliness
I hope and pray
I'll be the vision of your happiness

Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear love you all the time
I'm just a fool, fool, a fool in love with you

It felt weird playing all these calm oldie songs but I kept my mouth shut and my eyes at the floor. I didn't have to sing once and the night dragged on for what seemed like days. The next thing I knew we were taking our bows as the room politely clapped. We packed up our things and left after getting our pay. Randi was given several bouquets or Roses and other flowers after the show and I stood off in the corner trying to be invisible. I didn't know how to be normal and my sister looked so happy. The ride home was silent and I locked myself in my room once we got back home. I slipped into a pair of blue leggings and black jean shorts. A gray t-shirt peeked out from under my green baggy sweater. I slipped on my armored boots, I wanted to stomp and hear things break under my feet.

I curled up on my bed and stared at my ceiling for awhile. A soft tapping on my window drew my attention and I walked over, pulling it open. I was pushed out of the way as Robin pulled himself into my room and brushed himself off. I really wasn't in the mood for this.

"Why are you here?" I crossed my arms over my chest as he sent me a cocky smirk.

"Batman needs your help with something." He copied my stance and looked almost comical with his hip sticking out in a feminine pose.

"I don't feel like dressing up tonight tell him to find someone else."

"You don't have to dress up. And he did tell me to carry you to him like a sack of potatoes if you refused." He pulled a pair of yellow handcuffs from his belt and twirled them around on a finger. "I really was hoping to use these anyways."

"I'm going to throw you out the window again if you don't leave." I pointed at the open window. He walked over as if to brush by me but I was soon handcuffed and thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Oh I'm really gonna kick your ass now." I growled and squirmed trying to break the metal.

"Hold on tight, Batman never said I couldn't 'accidentally' drop you." With that he launched out the window and began grappling to the outskirts of the city. He dropped down into an alley and un-cuffed me. Before I could punch him in the face he handed me a helmet and pulled me towards a motorcycle hidden behind a dumpster.

"Seriously?" I looked at the helmet; it had a big red robin design staring back at me.

"Just get on the bike. I'll explain once we get there." I rolled my eyes and slipped the helmet on. Sliding up behind him on the bike he pulled my arms around his waist a little too tightly for my liking. "Hold on tight." He then proceeded to speed off making me clutch his armor with a little more force then necessary. The world blurred past me and I almost didn't make out the sign until we had nearly past it. 'Arkham Asylum 1 mile. Do not pick up hitchhikers. They may be escaping patients.'

I watched the asylum loom in front of me as Robin parked and pulled me off the bike. I slipped the helmet off and handed it back to him. How could anyone send people here? It looked like a horror show waiting to happen. I trudged behind Robin as he led me inside one of the main buildings and I groaned seeing Batman waiting for me along with several doctors and police officers.

"Let me guess, you're locking me up here?" I growled and he just stared at me impassively.

"Inmates are escaping almost as fast as I put them in here. You are going to find out how." He actually ordered me as if I were working for him. My respect for the guy was already borderline but now he was throwing me into a mission. Seriously?

"I do have a life you know. I can't be gone from the band for too long. People will notice." I licked my canines and I saw some of the doctors pale and back away from me. I was getting off to a great start.

"Just play along and report to Robin once your done." He walked down the hall and disappeared into the shadows.

"If I was in his shoes I'd have locked you up first night I saw you. But not here, somewhere more pleasant." Robin gave me a once over before moving to fix my hair.

"Don't touch the hair." I tried to pull away from him but he grabbed me by my collar and fixed it anyways.

"Just making you look nice." He let me go and gave a nod to one of the police before taking off. I saw him look back at me and his eyes dropped to my ass before quickly turning his head and dismissing me.

"Don't worry ma'am. This is just a simple in and out project." One of the older cops handed me a badge marked 'visitor' and I clipped it to my sweater. I ignored the radio chatter as a very creepy looking doctor walked into the room and introduced himself.

"I am Doctor Hugo Strange. It is a pleasure to meet you Miss D." He extended his hand and I shook it. It was too warm and sweaty but I couldn't pull away without looking rude.

"Nice to meet you Doctor Strange." After he let my hand go I wiped it off on my pants when he wasn't looking. He walked over to a door and slid his ID badge into it and it whooshed open.

"This way please. It's not every day that we receive someone who works with the Batman; it is a privilege I'm sure." His voice was dripping sarcasm but I walked through the door hoping that it wouldn't be a one way trip.

"So why exactly am I here?" I sighed as I tried to keep up with his pace.

"Why you've just donated a large sum of money to help fund the music therapy department. Batman came and delivered the check himself. A bit unorthodox way to deliver such funding but it is a welcome gesture. The warden wanted to come thank you himself but unfortunately he is feeling a bit under the weather." Doctor strange led me through a series of maze like hallways until we reached the penitentiary ward.

"Well I'm glad that you received it safely. Music is important to all aspects of a person's life." Might as well get into the roll and play it like a guitar.

"Indeed. We have to walk through the rogue's gallery to reach the new wing I'm afraid. They are still working on the main walkway, its not structurally safe yet. Just keep your eyes to yourself and none of them should bother you." He led me to an armored door with two guards standing at attention on either side of it. Sliding his badge again the door creaked open and we both walked into the dimly lit walkway. I tried to keep my eyes to myself but I failed and I was casting quick glances all around me.

"So this new wing will house just the music department?" I tried to focus on the Doctors back. I noticed how much taller he was then me and I frowned a bit. He didn't look back at me once and was really giving off a creepy vibe.

"Fresh meat Strange?" A voice came from the cell to our left and Doctor Strange actually paused and looked over.

"Ah Mister Crane. This is the woman who is funding our music therapy department. I'm sure she would love to hear your take on how music is beneficial to regaining ones sanity." His voice was dripping sarcasm and I looked over to see who he was talking to.

"Its Doctor Crane." He hissed at Doctor Strange. Crane was tall and thin. His limbs seemed almost too long for his body and his face was sharp and angular. He was strapped into a straight jacket that looked like it had seen better days. It was stained with blood and sweat and I bet that it smelled as bad as it looked. His red hair was messy and sticking out in all directions giving him an almost mad scientist look. His eyes were so dark that they looked black in the dim lighting. I could see bruises healing around his eyes and his lip had been split, it was still swollen and healing.

"Oh I'm sorry Mister Crane. Has the boards ruling of stripping you of your title still sting?"

"I will end you Strange. You will scream when the Scarecrow comes for you!" Crane was raving until his dark eyes met my yellow ones. I saw something behind his eyes as he went silent almost as if studying me. I wondered what he had done to make it to Arkham. I also wondered if he'd been beaten up by Batman also, he looked so frail sitting there.

"Enough. We must keep moving." My arm was grabbed roughly and I was pulled along struggling to keep up with Strange's stride. He ignored the jeers and taunts thrown at him until we had nearly reached the end of the walkway. Another heavily armored door stood in front of us and he let me go to swipe his card.

"Don't turn your back on him my dear." A quiet voice to my right drew my gaze. There he was. The Riddler. He had a thick gauze bandage over his nose and his face was still bruised and swollen. His left eye was swollen completely shut and he was sitting on his bed in a straight jacket. His good eye trapped me in its green gaze. He looked like he was in pain but he must not have been getting any help. His bandage was crusted with dried blood and I wondered if they'd even bothered to set his nose before slapping it on. I know he recognized me but he said nothing and quickly looked to the floor breaking me away from his almost hypnotic gaze.

"Stop lollygagging." I was roughly pulled through the door and it closed with a soft whoosh behind me.

"Sorry I'm just not used to seeing people so injured. It's frightening." I threw out the first excuse I could think of and I saw the scowl fade off his face. He put a hand on my shoulder almost to comfort me but it took all that I had not to stiffen under his touch.

"Oh don't worry too much about them. They receive the best care that Arkham can provide. Now lets put that all behind us and focus on the future." He waved his hand down the hall and I saw a newer addition had been added to the building. The walls were whiter and the floor shining under our feet.

"And how exactly will the music department help with the mental health of Arkham's inmates?" I followed him into the empty wing as he showed me each room.

"Why my dear you of all people should know the calming effect of music on the human mind." He spoke as if I were a child. I didn't exactly know what Batman hoped I would find in here but I hoped I would know soon enough. This man was seriously creeping me out and I half expected to get knocked out and wake up mid dissection.

"Of course, what kind of music programs are you thinking of providing?" The fake smile almost melted off my face when he turned and gave me a grin that chilled my blood.

"Why I was hoping you would help out with that. It would be most beneficial to have an actual musician teach some patients in the wonders of music." The lights in the hall seemed to shine demonically from his dark lenses. What in the world did I get myself into?